The trial of three Saudi nationals accused of belonging to al-Qaeda and of plotting to blow up British and American warships in the Mediterranean resumed in Morocco on Monday.

The three are Abdullah Mesfer Ali al-Ghamdi, Zouhair Hilal and Hilal El-Assiri.

Along with seven Moroccans, including two of the Saudi men's Moroccan wives, they are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and attempted sabotage, the BBC web site reported. The men are accused of planning to blow up US and British warships

If convicted the suspects could face the death penalty. However, the defence in this trial and opposition figures in Morocco contend that the Moroccan security services were over-eager to impress the Americans.

That they arrested the three Saudis on a flimsy pretext - obtaining confessions through the use of torture. Defence lawyers say that early police claims that explosives were found in luggage belonging to the Saudis have never been substantiated and that the confessions remain the only evidence. (Albawaba.com)